Application of consequence-based design criteria in regions of moderate seismicity

Current design criteria and principles of earthquake engineering design are reviewed, including safety factors, probabilistic approach, and two-level and multi-level functional design ideas. The modern multi-functional idea is discussed in greater details. When designing a structure, its resistance to and the intensity of the earthquake action are considered. The consequence of failure of the structure is considered only through a rough and empirical factor of importance, ranging usually from 1.0 to 1.5. This paper suggests a method of “consequence-based design,” which considers the consequences of malfunctioning instead of simply an importance factor. The main argument for this method is that damage to a structure located in different types of societies may have very different consequences, which are dependant on its value and usefulness to the society and the seismicity in the region.